Training device for golf-players.



W. J. ENGLISH. TRAINING DEVICE FOR GOLF PLAYERS.

APPLICATION FILED 10150.19, 1910. I

Patented Oct. 17, 1911.

2 SHEBTSS BET 1.

W. J. ENGLISH.

TRAINING DEVICE FOR GOLF PLAYERS.

APPLICATION FILED DBO. 19, 1910. 1,005,948 Patented Oct. 17, 1911.

2 SHEETSSHEET 2.

72% QM ZMJZr 1M a Af gym mg/a novel construction, arrangement and combination 'of'parts herein shown anddescribed,

I guidin means for the head of the club substantia ly in elevation, and indicates the of'his club; Fig. 6 is abottom plan view of In playing't-he game of golf, one of the the necessary force to be exerted, is concan ac uire correct form in the swin of 25 in ahorizont-al plane. Figs. 3 and& indicate 1 of'the track to ether so that the parts are 40 STATES 1 ATENT orrion.

WILLIAM J". ENGLISH, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

TRAINING DEVICE FOR GOLF-PLAYERS.

censee.

Specification of- Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 17, 1911.

Application filed December 19, 191d. Serial No. 598,029.

To-all whom.- it may concern:

Be it known that 1, WILLIAM J. ENGLISH, a citizen of the United States, residing in the city of Chicago, county of Cook, and State of Illinois, have invented a certain new and useful Improved Training Device for Golf-Players, of which the following is a description.

tinually-handicapped by the fact that the blow has not been-properly delivered.

The object of my invention is to secure a training device, by means of which a player theclu either by himself alone or by the aid of a trainer or expert.

To this end myinvention consists in the claims,

In the drawings, Figure 1 illustrates the andmore particularlypointed out in the curve of the track in axerticlal plane. 2 indicates the curve of the track substantially simple means of joining the sectional parts readily detacha 1e for convenience in handling-or shi ping, or shortening the guide, as may be esired for particular purposes, etc. Fig. 5 is a slightly enlarged view, showing the track graduated so that the player may more accurately gage the swing the head of a bra'wie, which maybe used with the guiding means to indicate the correct engagement of the head of the club with thegmding track. ,Fig. 7 is a face view of the said club; Fig. 8 is a face view of an iron club, adapted for the same purpose.

In playing the game of golf in a correct manner, the neck of the player acts as a center, while the arms, together with the length of the shaft from'the hands to the head of the club, are substantially the radius of a partial'circle, which the head of the club describes in a proper swing. This partial circlefor part of a circle, .may more properly be termed a curve, since it is not a true circle ordinarily, as the arms are usually bent at the elbow a portion of the swing, generally at the beginning, consequently at the beginning of the curve it may be more abrupt, while as the head of the club approaches the objective point, to-wit the ball upon the ground, the arms straighten, and the curve from that point to the final delivery is substantially regular for a' time, terminating in a bend of the elbows again after the stroke is delivered, and't-he club is swung substantially back of the player.

The above description applies particularly 'to the use of those clubs having a comparatively long shaft, although the same' rule applies to a greater or less extent in the use of-all of the clubs, and even when but a short stroke is employed. It 'will be apparent from the abovethat the curve is usually a compound one, and is inclined in relation to the vertical or horizontal planes. At the beginning and end of the stroke the head of the club may be in a plane substantiallyvep tical with the stance of the player, while at the moment the club engages the ball, the head of the club is a considerable distance forward from the feet of the player, and in a substantially horizontal plane therewith. With this explanation the drawings will be readily understood, and may be described as follows:

'1'1 are suitable supporting standards,

which may be formed as shown tobe set in the ground, or if for indoor practice, w1th- I jsuitable feet to stand- 'upon the floor. From the top of the two standards extends a track 2, which describes a curve, indicating the course the head of the club assumes whenswung in a proper manner. The center of the track may be anchored, ifdesired, as shown at 3 in Fig. 1, to secure stability of the track and to prevent accidental lateral displacement. The player takes his stance substantially at the point marked 4 in Fig. 2, andas he swings his club upward and backward for the stroke, he may permit the head of the same to'ride upon the track to acquire a conception of the proper forward stroke, in which event the course of the obvious that various modifications may be club is substantially indicated in the full lines on Fig. 1. In a full swing the head of the club will leave the track in the backward preliminary swing and engage it again as it comes forward, takingthe course substantially as indicated by the dotted lines shown on Fig. 1,'l,eaving the track after the swing is effected; the momentum of the swing carrying the club back of the player.

The position of the ball as indicatedat 5 in Fig. 2, to the stance of the player, will be regulated according to the club used in making the swing, as is well understood by those familiar with the game.

The guiding track is preferably made in sections, and may be joined together as indicated in Fig. 3, in which the sections 6 and 7 are maintained in proper relative position by a pin 8 inserted in the proximate ends of the sections, and, if desired, a cross pin 9 maintaining the said pin in position.

If preferred, however, the sections may be secured together as shown in Fig. 4, in which sections 10 and 11 are joined by a threaded engagement. In order that the player may more accurately estimate his stroke, the track, or a considerable portion of it near the center, is preferably graduated as shown in Fig. 5, in which the graduating lines 12 guide the player as to the distance of the swing, as for illustration, when less than a fullswing is employed, commonly referred to as three-quarters, half or quarter swing.

In the preferred form, I construct the head of the club particularly for use with the training device. As shown in Figs. 6 and 7, the brassie 13 has a transverse groove 14 formed therein, which loosely engages the track and indicates to the player any inaccuracy in his swing in a horizontal direction. This inaccuracy is one of -the common faults in playing, and by this means accuracy in this direction is also gained, as the club is not liable to accidentally leave the track, and if the side walls of the groove engage it, intimates to the player that he is moving the body forward or backward improperly, and thereby enables him to correct the fault. Fig. 8 indicates an iron club 15, provided with a similar groove 16. Any other means may be employed, however, to cause the head bf the club to follow the track, preventing accidental disengagement of the two, and indicating to the player improper movement backward and forward in his swing, If the training is in a proper place, the ball may be positioned at the proper point, substantially as indicated in Fig. 2, so that the player may readily perceive the effect ofthe blow and correct any inaccuracies in his play resulting from an improper grip, or from other causes.

Havmg thus descrlbed my invention, it is employed to secure substantially the same results, Without departing from the spirit of the invention. Hence I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself to the exact form and construction shown, as such modifications will readily present themselves to the skilled teacher or expert.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure .by Letters Patent, is-

of the club, describing substantially a curve extending bothvertically and horizontally to secure the-most efi'ective stroke, said track being graduated to measure the length of the stroke, the neck .of the player forming the center, and the length of the arms of the player and the club used, acting as the radius of such curve or circle, substantially as described.

1?). A device of the kind described, comprising a suitable guiding track'for the head of the club, describing substantially a curve both vertically and horizontally, to secure the most efiective stroke, with the neck of the player as the center, and the length of the arms and clubused as the radius of such curve or circle, in combination with a club,

in: which the head 18 provided with means to loosely eliiigage such track, to indicate the proper e ective engagement of the club therewith, and hence the proper position of the player during the stroke, substantially as a curve extending v justing the length (if the guide as desired, substantially as described. 1

5. A devlce of the kind described, com

prising a suitable guiding track for the head ofthe club, describing a curve indicating the path of the club head to secure an effective stroke, said guide being adjustable to modify the said curve as desired, whereby said guide may be adjusted to adapt it to difierent individuals varying in their swing 10 of said club, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto signed myname in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

WILLIAM J. ENGLISH. Witnesses:

JOHN W. HJLL, CHARLES I. ,COBB. 

